Taranaki Masters Games hold dog agility competition

From jumping through hoops and climbing up frames, dogs will be showing off their skills at a dog agility event.

Dog agility is held as part of the Taranaki Masters Games. For the event, competitors will be directing their dogs through a course.

Organiser of the event, Judy Towers, says the dog agility event will be fun and relaxing.

"Dog agility, at the Taranaki Masters Games, is a fun relaxing day spent with, and competing with, other competitors your age. Its also the only agility competition where medals are awarded.

"As the games are a fun competition, it gives younger members of the club an opportunity to learn to score the competitors' run."

For dog agility, the dogs run in their height group, maxi, med, mini, micro with the jumps and obstacles set to accommodate the dogs height.

"A course is set up which contains jumps, tunnels a weave and sometimes tyre, a frame and maybe a dog walk. The idea is to complete the numbered course aiming for a clear round, with no poles down and touching all contacts on the dog walk and A frame."

Judy says over the years they have had young judges.

"This year our judge is Erin Ball, a young 18-year-old from Whanganui. She will not only set the seven courses but judge all day as well.

"We will be competing at the Normanby Domain, so we are hoping for a fun day in the sun."

■ For spectators wanting to watch the event, the dog agility event will be held at Hawera Dog Training Club, Ketemarae Rd, Normanby, on Sunday, March 17. First course walked at 8.45am with judging 9am.